NEW AND IMPROVED ROAD BRINGS RELIEF FOR 40 HOUSEHOLDS

Life will change for the better for more than 40 households after the successful completion of concreting the Latchman Feeder Road Hill 1 in Sawani, outside Nausori town.

Naitasiri District Advisory Councillor Mahendra Prasad Chaudhary says they were grateful to the Government and the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) for assisting the people of Sawani in providing a safe and an improved access.

“We would also like to show our appreciation to the FRA for successfully upgrading the Waila Feeder Road, Jalim Avenue, Hassan Feeder Road, Ram Singh Feeder Road to name a few.”

He said the FRA has also constructed an off-road Bus Bay at Rambisessar Chaudhary Memorial Primary School, which has addressed safety concerns for more than 500 children.

This was part of FRA’s 2016/17 Safety Improvement Project for the children on the busy and narrow Princes Road.

FRA Central Maintenance Contract Manager Viliame Vatuwaliwali says this road was hardly maintained until the FRA came into existence in 2013 and was upgraded and maintained via the Fast Response Strategy, which targets small community fit for purpose access.

“This is a small section of steep ascent (approx. 70m) that gets washed out during severe rainfall, and the FRA was approached for assistance for concreting the steep access.”

He said the agreement involved FRA supplying 25 MPA Ready-mix concrete and technical support (specifications and testing) whilst the locals supplied plants and labour for the execution of work.

“The public private partnership has now produced an economically fit for purpose sustainable access, acknowledging that Fiji is heading into the cyclone season.”

Mr Vatuwaliwali said FRA was committed to engage with local communities in its drive to ensure proper access is provided to all Fijians.

FRA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Moore says FRA is not only about the big projects, but it is all about what the people need.

“If people need a road to their house, we will give them a road to their house, there is not preferential treatment for one area or another, it’s for everybody and that’s what we are here for,” Mr Moore said.